Encouragement for the Weary Mom

We are all wrapping up a season that has left us all weary. No matter what challenges you faced last year as a pandemic surged the globe, it is likely that by now you have felt the weight of it a few times over. Whether virtual schooling, having to do life without seeing family members or fighting the illness itself, we have all felt the burden that the past year has laid on us. I don’t know about you, but as a mom, that just left me plain weary some days.

For a year, I have longed for a sense of normalcy. And yet, as normal begins to return, and I feel the burdens of normal life for the first time in a while, I find myself equally weary. My foster daughter’s case is finally moving after months of silence, and I find myself growing more and more anxious. We are back to rushing out the door in the mornings, and I find myself with less patience for my three children.

Motherhood can leave the best of moms weary in even the best of seasons. The days are long, the tantrums are frequent, and the demands are great. Whether in a season of peace or trouble, if I am trying to parent my children in my own strength, it is always going to be a much too heavy burden to carry. I can’t do it alone.

Throughout the past year, I have often been reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”(NLT).

Scripture so clearly addresses the need for us to hand our burdens to the Lord. Yet so often, I find myself picking my burdens right back up as if I am the only one capable of carrying them. After a while, it gets too heavy again and I break. So, I repeat the cycle over and over again by trying to rely on my own strength.

I am reminded of my own son in this. He is deep in the middle of toddlerhood, and when I try to help him, I am often met with the response, “No, I do it myself.” He will try and try only to eventually break down in defeat when he does in fact need my help. While picturing myself as a toddler is humorous, it is not far from reality.

So often, I am like my two-year-old with God.

I demand that I can “handle it myself” only to eventually crumble under the weight of the burden in complete weariness.

What if in this season of weariness we decided to trust God for the loving and faithful Father that He is? How much lighter would our burdens be if we actually handed them to Him and trusted Him to take care of them?

I am tired of being a “spiritual toddler” determined to do things my way instead of allowing my trustworthy and loving Father to help me. In this season, I encourage you to hand your burdens over to your Father. Let’s let Him carry the weight of the world. After all, He created it so it’s not too heavy for Him.

Cast your cares on Him,

Stephanie Roberts